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There seems； however； only one plausible way of accounting for them …
and yet it is dreadful to believe in such atrocity as my suggestion
would imply。 It is clear that Kidd … if Kidd indeed secreted this
treasure； which I doubt not … it is clear that he must have had
assistance in the labor。 But this labor concluded； he may have
thought it expedient to remove all participants in his secret。
Perhaps a couple of blows with a mattock were sufficient； while his
coadjutors were busy in the pit； perhaps it required a dozen … who
shall tell？〃
_
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~~~ End of Text ~~~
FOUR BEASTS IN ONE
THE HOMO…CAMELEOPARD
Chacun a ses vertus。
_Crebillon's Xerxes。_
ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES is very generally looked upon as the Gog of the
prophet Ezekiel。 This honor is； however； more properly attributable
to Cambyses； the son of Cyrus。 And； indeed； the character of the
Syrian monarch does by no means stand in need of any adventitious
embellishment。 His accession to the throne； or rather his usurpation
of the sovereignty； a hundred and seventy…one years before the coming
of Christ； his attempt to plunder the temple of Diana at Ephesus； his
implacable hostility to the Jews； his pollution of the Holy of
Holies； and his miserable death at Taba； after a tumultuous reign of
eleven years； are circumstances of a prominent kind； and therefore
more generally noticed by the historians of his time than the
impious； dastardly； cruel； silly； and whimsical achievements which
make up the sum total of his private life and reputation。
Let us suppose； gentle reader； that it is now the year of the world
three thousand eight hundred and thirty； and let us； for a few
minutes； imagine ourselves at that most grotesque habitation of man；
the remarkable city of Antioch。 To be sure there were； in Syria and
other countries； sixteen cities of that appellation； besides the one
to which I more particularly allude。 But ours is that which went by
the name of Antiochia Epidaphne； from its vicinity to the little
village of Daphne； where stood a temple to that divinity。 It was
built （although about this matter there is some dispute） by Seleucus
Nicanor； the first king of the country after Alexander the Great； in
memory of his father Antiochus； and became immediately the residence
of the Syrian monarchy。 In the flourishing times of the Roman Empire；
it was the ordinary station of the prefect of the eastern provinces；
and many of the emperors of the queen city （among whom may be
mentioned； especially； Verus and Valens） spent here the greater part
of their time。 But I perceive we have arrived at the city itself。 Let
us ascend this battlement； and throw our eyes upon the town and
neighboring country。
〃What broad and rapid river is that which forces its way； with
innumerable falls； through the mountainous wilderness； and finally
through the wilderness of buildings？〃
That is the Orontes； and it is the only water in sight； with the
exception of the Mediterranean； which stretches； like a broad mirror；
about twelve miles off to the southward。 Every one has seen the
Mediterranean； but let me tell you； there are few who have had a peep
at Antioch。 By few； I mean； few who； like you and me； have had； at
the same time； the advantages of a modern education。 Therefore cease
to regard that sea； and give your whole attention to the mass of
houses that lie beneath us。 You will remember that it is now the year
of the world three thousand eight hundred and thirty。 Were it later
for example； were it the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and
forty…five； we should be deprived of this extraordinary spectacle。 In
the nineteenth century Antioch is that is to say； Antioch will be
in a lamentable state of decay。 It will have been； by that time；
totally destroyed； at three different periods； by three successive
earthquakes。 Indeed； to say the truth； what little of its former self
may then remain； will be found in so desolate and ruinous a state
that the patriarch shall have removed his residence to Damascus。 This
is well。 I see you profit by my advice； and are making the most of
your time in inspecting the premises in
…satisfying your eyes
With the memorials and the things of fame
That most renown this city。…
I beg pardon； I had forgotten that Shakespeare will not flourish for
seventeen hundred and fifty years to come。 But does not the
appearance of Epidaphne justify me in calling it grotesque？
〃It is well fortified； and in this respect is as much indebted to
nature as to art。〃
Very true。
〃There are a prodigious number of stately palaces。〃
There are。
〃And the numerous temples； sumptuous and magnificent； may bear
comparison with the most lauded of antiquity。〃
All this I must acknowledge。 Still there is an infinity of mud huts；
and abominable hovels。 We cannot help perceiving abundance of filth
in every kennel； and； were it not for the over…powering fumes of
idolatrous incense； I have no doubt we should find a most intolerable
stench。 Did you ever behold streets so insufferably narrow； or houses
so miraculously tall？ What gloom their shadows cast upon the ground！
It is well the swinging lamps in those endless colonnades are kept
burning throughout the day； we should otherwise have the darkness of
Egypt in the time of her desolation。
〃It is certainly a strange place！ What is the meaning of yonder
singular building？ See！ it towers above all others； and lies to the
eastward of what I take to be the royal palace。〃
That is the new Temple of the Sun； who is adored in Syria under the
title of Elah Gabalah。 Hereafter a very notorious Roman Emperor will
institute this worship in Rome； and thence derive a cognomen；
Heliogabalus。 I dare say you would like to take a peep at the
divinity of the temple。 You need not look up at the heavens； his
Sunship is not there at least not the Sunship adored by the
Syrians。 That deity will be found in the interior of yonder building。
He is worshipped under the figure of a large stone pillar terminating
at the summit in a cone or pyramid； whereby is denoted Fire。
〃Hark behold！ who can those ridiculous beings be； half naked；
with their faces painted； shouting and gesticulating to the rabble？〃
Some few are mountebanks。 Others more particularly belong to the race
of philosophers。 The greatest portion； however those especially
who belabor the populace with clubs are the principal courtiers of
the palace； executing as in duty bound； some laudable comicality of
the king's。
〃But what have we here？ Heavens！ the town is swarming with wild
beasts！ How terrible a spectacle！ how dangerous a peculiarity！〃
Terrible； if you please； but not in the least degree dangerous。 Each
animal if you will take the pains to observe； is following； very
quietly； in the wake of its master。 Some few； to be sure； are led
with a rope about the neck； but these are chiefly the lesser or timid
species。 The lion； the tiger； and the leopard are entirely without
restraint。 They have been trained without difficulty to their present
profession； and attend upon their respective owners in the capacity
of valets…de…chambre。 It is true； there are occasions when Nature
asserts her violated dominions； but then the devouring of a
man…at…arms； or the throttling of a consecrated bull； is a
circumstance of too little moment to be more than hinted at in
Epidaphne。
〃But what extraordinary tumult do I hear？ Surely this is a loud noise
even for Antioch！ It argues some commotion of unusual interest。〃
Yes undoubtedly。 The king has ordered some novel spectacle some
gladiatorial exhibition at the hippodrome or perhaps the massacre
of the Scythian prisoners or the conflagration of his new palace
or the tearing down of a handsome temple or； indeed； a bonfire
of a few Jews。 The uproar increases。 Shouts of laughter ascend the
skies。 The air becomes dissonant with wind instruments； and horrible
with clamor of a million throats。 Let us descend； for the love of
fun； and see what is going on！ This way be careful！ Here we are in
the principal street； which is called the street of Timarchus。 The
sea of people is coming this way； and we shall find a difficulty in
stemming the tide。 They are pouring through the alley of Heraclides；
which leads directly from the palace； therefore the king is most
probably among the rioters。 Yes； I hear the shouts of the herald
proclaiming his approach in the pompous phraseology of the East。 We
shall have a glimpse of his person as he passes by the temple of
Ashimah。 Let us ensconce ourselves in the vestibule of the sanctuary；
he will be here anon。 In the meantime let us survey this image。 What
is it？ Oh！ it is the god Ashimah in proper person。 You perceive；
however； that he is neither a lamb； nor a goat； nor a satyr； neither
has he much resemblance to the Pan of the Arcadians。 Yet all these
appearances have been given I beg pardon will be given by
the learned of future ages； to the Ashimah of the Syrians